Horsley looks to take Decatur Central back to title tilt

For Decatur Central’s Peyton Horsley, watching the games from the stands was all it took. As a child, Horsley played basketball and baseball, but he remembers attending a friend’s football game and being hooked. “I remember going to a friend’s football game, and I saw him scoring touchdowns, running over people, people cheering for him, etc. and I wanted to experience that myself,” the Decatur Central quarterback told Sideline Prep Sports Report. So, the rising senior opted to go out for the game. “Once I started hitting people, and once I started scoring touchdowns, I just fell in love with the game ever since,” Horsley said. And, he’s done a tremendous job of getting the fans to cheer for him, guiding the Hawks to a 9-3 record last year after opening 0-2. A season ago, Horsley threw for 1,602 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also rushed for 294 yards and another four trips to the end zone.

With a bizarre offseason that hasn’t featured much organized training, Horsley tells Sideline Prep Sports Report that he has been busy working on improving and is ready for a senior season that is “one for the books.”

“I have a lot more knowledge over reading defenses. I have better ball placement and better awareness. I always knew I had a gift to be good at this sport, but you don’t earn anything if you aren’t willing to put in the work,” Horsley said.

And, while he may face adversity this fall, as the Hawks open at defending Class 5A state champion New Palestine and then play Center Grove before a tough Mid-State Conference lineup, Horsley will draw on knowing he has been tested before and come through.

“After all of the adversity I have faced during my high school career, I am blessed to be in the position I am in today. The success that I have made so far, it motivates me to do better. I’m never satisfied and always hungry for more,” he told Sideline Prep Sports Report.

As for the schedule, Horsley notes Decatur Central is ready to try another run at a state title.

“I know, for us seniors, we would like to get to experience that feeling on making it to state again. That’s the goal for us every season, and, obviously, another goal is to win the Mid-State Conference again. We have won it four years in a row and we plan on making it a fifth,” Horsley said.

Personally, he admits he has a big goal, as well.

“I’m trying to beat Bryce Jefferson’s record with 24 passing touchdowns in a single season. I feel very confident that I’ll be able to beat the record this year so that’s a major personal goal for me heading into the season,” Horsley said.

Currently, he has two offers from Mount St. Joseph and Valparaiso University. Horsley said several other schools are interested, but are wanting to wait until the fall for him to visit.

“I don’t have a favorite right now, but I’m working hard to get a lot more FCS and FBS offers, if I can. I know that’s a huge goal for me, and I’m putting in a lot of work to make that happen. As far as what I look for in a school, I like schools who treat you more than just a football player – they actually have interest in your family life and who you are as a person. I like schools who make you feel at home and, obviously, I love schools who like to compete at a high level,” Horsley said.